Organized by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the awards began in 1964 and were presented by RPM Magazine as the 'Gold Leaf Awards', with the winners chosen by a poll of the magazine's readers. In 1971, these were renamed the 'Juno Awards', a name derived from the godJuno of Roman mythology and from Pierre Juneau, the first head of the Canadian Radio-Television Commission.
The Junos acknowledge artistic and technical achievement in all aspects of the music of Canada. Currently the various winners are chosen by members of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, or, depending on the award, by a panel of experts or actual record sales. New members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame are also inducted as part of the awards ceremony.
